By Azael Masese
Nairobi County has put in place an elaborate system to ensure high education standards are maintained in schools within the capital city.
In the face of rapid urbanisation, Regional Co-ordinator of Education, Nairobi, Mr John Ololtuaa , admitted that there might be a rush to start schools without following due process.
Nairobi has witnessed an unprecedented growth of real estates and market centres which in turn create demand for education.
In some cases though, there is no space set aside for public utilities such as schools and this poses a challenge.
“We are vigilant to ensure the right procedures are adhered to and this involves working closely with the relevant authorities such as chiefs and real estate groups chairpersons,” he noted.
He said that anybody who intends to start a school must inform the right authority starting with the sub county director of education.
“Even before you build structures, you must inform the relevant authorities including the sub county director of education who together with the public health officers will inspect the facility,” he advised.
“For us to really manage we must build that network and have a linkage between the chiefs and the chairpersons of the real estate groups,” he told Education News at his Nyayo House office.
Besides the two cadres of officials, Mr Ololtuaa said they work closely with the sub county director of education and the curriculum support officers to ensure the law is followed.
Others are the sub county director of education, curriculum support officers and the quality assurance officers, chief education officers, deputy county commissioners and the chiefs.
“We ensure that all teachers are registered with TSC even those who offer Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE),” he said.
Imara Daima is one such area with only one public secondary school and this is likely to see the setting up of private institutions to meet the rising demand for secondary education.
